Reviews list for Fear Factory - The Industrialist (2012)

Fear Factory made an amazing comeback with their album Mechanize. Added to the lineup for that album were members of the defunct Strapping Young Lad, legendary drummer Gene Hoglan and powerful bassist Byron Stroud, the latter have previously been credited for Archetype and Transgression despite not performing in those albums. However, those two guys left the band just before this album...

The Industrialist was released in June 2012, having been written, recorded, and engineered by just vocalist Burton C. Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares. Clearly their friendship and teamwork really is back on track, and they can really write the music and concept effortlessly!

The opening title track is similar in structure to that of Mechanize. First off, we have an industrial sample intro that then leads Dino's riffing and Burton's screaming. However, the intro lasts a minute and a half, and in the beginning, Burton provides spoken dialogue against religion. When the tight riffing comes on, so does the drum programming, which sounds similar to Gene Hoglan's drumming in Mechanize but more digital. The riffing from that album and even the two albums before Mechanize all in full intense force with dissonant machinery. However, the unremarkable "Recharger" has a more complicated formula. Too repetitive in the verse riffs and vocal melodies. But there's more of the catchy majesty in "New Messiah" with an epic chorus.

"God Eater" has a cool keyboard/piano intro, an aspect introduced in Mechanize. The verse is also promising in the deep riffing and shouted vocals. But then it ends up getting so repetitive, especially in the extensive outro that works better as background music for DOOM. "Depraved Mind Murder" is where Burton's vocal melodies stretch through in a pleasant way and together with Dino's chords, they make the song more memorable. The bass and drums are also interesting. More of the growling fury appears in "Virus of Faith". And again in "Difference Engine", though not working so well, and kind of ruining that song by their poor attempt to recreate the glory of Demanufacture.

Next track "Disassemble" is as h*lla heavy as technical death metal. It's like you're in a trash conveyor about to be cut apart and stomped on before incinerated, and the interlude it segues to "Religion is Flawed Because Man is Flawed" has undeniable atmosphere for when you feel the fire burning you away. Wrapping things up is "Human Augmentation" which is a better ambient closer than that of Archetype. The bonus remix of "Difference Engine" isn't great at all. But their cover of Pitchshifter's "Landfill" is!

All in all, The Industrialist is a pretty great album. It's a shame that bassist Christian Olde Wolbers and drummer Raymond Herrera are no long with the band. Maybe they can make amends and reunite with their ex-bandmates for a special Demanufacture anniversary tour. For now, this album has kept the band's journey excellent all the same....

Favorites: "The Industrialist", "New Messiah", "Depraved Mind Murder", "Disassemble", "Human Augmentation", "Landfill" (Pitchshifter cover)